Nestlé Research Center Berries: Industry needs the science Gary Williamson

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries2 Inaugurated in 1987 Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne Basic knowledge in the food and life sciences Application in the whole Nestlé Group Part of the international scientific community

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries3

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries4 Phytochemicals, Phytonutrients Flavanols Hydroxycinnamates (e.g ferulic acid, caffeic acid) Isoflavones (genistein, daidzein) Flavonols (e.g. quercetin) Anthocyanins Catechins Pro(antho)cyanidins Polyphenols Flavanones, flavones Flavonoids

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries5 Modified from Scalbert and Williamson 2000 J Nutr. Hertog (1993) 23 mg flavonols per day in the Dutch diet NEODIET 350 mg phenolic acids and 20 mg flavanones per day UK women y

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries6 Anthocyanins in berries (mg/kg fresh weight from Clifford, 2000)

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries7 Consumer Awareness  85% know the term antioxidant 1  54% associate antioxidant with cancer prevention 2 1 Mango Logic 2 IFIC 2002 Quantitative Consumer Study Consumer Awareness

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries8 Antioxidant FRAP values (  mol Fe 2+ /g FW) for fruits (Pellegrini et al 2003 J Nutr 133, 2812)

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries Urine Dietary polyphenols Faeces

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries10 C max for flavonoids in humans (Manach et al 2005 AJCN) isoflavones catechins flavonols flavanones

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries11 Summary  Polyphenol composition of berries  Antioxidant activity of berries always high in league tables – this reflects high polyphenol content  Industry often use in vitro activity from league tables: this is not enough!  Bioavailability varies for each class of polyphenols, so high antioxidant actvity in vitro does not necessarily mean effective in vivo

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries12 Time Stress event Low dose Bioactive Low dose Bioactive Antioxidants are required during stress Biomarker

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries13 Time Stress event Optimal dose Bioactive Optimal dose Bioactive Antioxidants are required during stress Biomarker

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries14 Biomarker Time Stress event High dose Bioactive High dose Bioactive Antioxidants are required during stress

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries15 Dias et al 2005 Model of diabetes in rats (streptozotocin-induced) ns P < 0.05

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries16 Some recent studies on cranberry juice in humans

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries17 Summary  Antioxidants have an effect mainly to counteract “stress”  We need more human studies on specific effects of berries and berry components in humans.  We already have many on cranberries and bacterial adhesion, for example  Best studies would use berries with high and low polyphenol contents

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries18 Scientific evidence Less strong

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries19 The key to a good experiment on flavonoids is the quality of the analytical methods!

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries20 Functional foods  FDA used the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)'s definition of functional foods as: "foods and food components that provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition". These include: conventional, fortified, enriched and enhanced foods

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries21 Summary  Human studies are needed for regulatory issues within the EU  Future “hard” claims will need high quality human studies on effects of berries  Ultimately, industry like claims – but these must be backed up with human studies  Will new products be “Functional Food”?

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries22 Functional foods or not?  Basic: berries or extract with known benefits added to a product and the levels of active compound measured in the product  Advanced: berries or extract with known benefits added to a product and the resulting bioavailability of the active compounds measured in humans  Ideal: berries or extract with known benefits added to a product and the resulting bioefficacy of the product measured in humans

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries Dose-response – the key! Adverse response Best effect on health at optimum levels

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries Dose-response – the key! Adverse response Best effect on health at optimum levels Higher risk of chronic disease at “deficiency level” Higher risk of chronic disease at “excess intake” – in most cases not possible from food intake alone

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries Dose-response – the key! Adverse response Best effect on health at optimum levels Normal dietary levels for most of the population Higher risk of chronic disease at “deficiency level” Higher risk of chronic disease at “excess intake” – in most cases not possible from food intake alone

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries Dose-response – the key! Adverse response Best effect on health at optimum levels Higher risk of chronic disease at “deficiency level” Higher risk of chronic disease at “excess intake” – in most cases not possible from food intake alone Desired dietary levels for best health benefit

Nestlé Research Center April 07COST action on Berries27 Nutrient Bioavailability Group at NRC: September 2006